The UAE presidency for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) has set an ambitious goal of making this year's summit the most inclusive conference to date.

Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, confirmed that there is a general consensus that vulnerable and marginalized communities are the most susceptible to the repercussions of climate change. Therefore, they are the most determined and motivated to find solutions to push climate action forward on a global scale.

In an interview with "Al-Ain News," the UN official said that the COP presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat have jointly pledged to ensure that marginalized voices are heard and that civil society plays a strong role in making decisions related to climate action.

Panova considers that the UAE's selection to host the COP28 conference, after last year’s COP27 in Egypt, represents an opportunity to showcase the challenges and priorities of Arab countries and enhance the participation of civil society organizations in climate action.

The following is the full text of the "Al-Ain News" interview with the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt:

How are UN organizations in Egypt preparing for their participation in COP28, which the UAE will be hosting later this year?

The participation of the UN Office in Egypt and other UN agencies at COP28 in the UAE this year differs from our participation in last year's COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, where we worked closely with the Egyptian government, as the host country, during the preparation stages to help organize a successful summit on climate action. We also had the opportunity to leverage the Sharm El-Sheikh conference to stimulate partnerships and drive climate action locally.

On a global scale, it is well known that the UNFCCC Secretariat works alongside the host nation's presidency to organize and manage the COP. The UN system participates through advocacy and support for urgent and ambitious climate action via the global offices of its affiliated organizations. In preparation for COP28, the UN in Egypt continues to work with the Egyptian government ahead of the Dubai conference to build on the important outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh conference.

What are the key initiatives that UN agencies are expected to present at COP28, building on the outcomes of last year's Sharm El-Sheikh conference?

The UN, along with the Egyptian presidency of last year’s COP27, contributed to the development and launch of several pioneering initiatives on the climate action path, such as transforming food systems, addressing climate and security, and promoting sustainable cities. COP28 is expected to be a significant milestone, providing an opportunity to assess progress on these initiatives while building further partnerships. The UN in Egypt continues to work with the COP presidency to support effective participation in the upcoming summit.

We at the UN are proud of the historic decision at COP27 to establish a loss and damage fund. This is a testament to the serious work and commitment of the Egyptian presidency toward advancing climate action. South Africa, Finland, and Egypt are chairing an international committee currently working on the arrangements for funding this fund, with the expectation that the committee will present its results and recommendations at the next COP conference in the UAE.

One of the important topics expected to be discussed at this year’s COP28 is the Global Stocktake, which serves as a comprehensive review of the world's progress on climate change and toward the goals of the Paris Agreement, aiming to identify gaps in climate action. Additionally, the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) will be reviewed, and the UN is working with governments worldwide, including Egypt, to develop and implement national action plans for achieving the agreed goals under the Paris Agreement.

Another important initiative to be reviewed at COP28 is the Early Warning for All initiative, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced last year. By 2027, the initiative wants to have early warning systems available for everyone. So far, pilot projects related to this initiative have been implemented in more than 30 countries.

How does the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt feel about the hosting of COP28 in the UAE—the second consecutive COP by an Arab nation?

It is known that Egypt hosted COP27 on behalf of Africa, and throughout its presidency, it ensured that this session had an African character, making the priorities and aspirations of African countries a top priority at the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Summit. The mobilization of additional financial packages for climate change mitigation, adaptation to its impacts, or compensation for loss and damage to African countries reflected this.

The UAE's hosting of COP28 this year, representing West Asia, presents a favorable opportunity for Arab countries to showcase their challenges and priorities on the climate summit's agenda. Climate change is already affecting many countries in the region, with rising temperatures making some areas uninhabitable, reducing arable land, and increasing pressure on already scarce water resources. Moreover, many countries in the region still rely on unsustainable energy sources like fossil fuels. The UAE’s presidency of COP provides an opportunity to push for a transition to new and renewable energy systems, which is essential for advancing climate action.

It is promising and optimistic that the UAE's presidency of COP28 and the UNFCCC Secretariat have pledged to make this year’s climate summit the most inclusive COP yet, ensuring marginalized voices are heard and that civil society plays a more active role in decision-making. This recognition stems from the understanding that vulnerable communities are the most determined and motivated to push for climate solutions. The selection of Egypt and the UAE to host consecutive COP conferences presents an opportunity to enhance civil society organizations' participation in Arab countries in climate action, broaden the range of voices participating in climate dialogue, and strengthen local knowledge to develop climate solutions.

How can the UN in Egypt support climate action at the national level?

The UN is working with the Egyptian government to implement various programs focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation to its impacts while mainstreaming climate action across other strategic priorities and activities in light of Egypt’s 2050 National Climate Strategy and its nationally determined contributions (NDCs). This includes a wide range of climate actions such as mitigation, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, and sustainable agriculture. Several other programs, such as health, gender equality, and the green economy, have also integrated climate action.

The UN’s work in Egypt is based on the understanding that climate change affects all development sectors in society. Fifteen UN entities in Egypt are working collectively to achieve a set of goals. The first goal is to drive the just transition to a green and circular economy, focusing on resource efficiency, renewable energy, improving waste management, and creating green jobs. The second goal relates to promoting sustainable agriculture, enhancing the resilience of the agricultural system, and conserving natural resources. The third goal involves developing legal and policy frameworks to address the impacts of climate change across various sectors, and the fourth goal relates to building more sustainable cities, partnering with civil society, supporting city planning, and integrating sustainable production and consumption practices.

Given that July 2023 is the hottest month on record, how is the UN responding to the unprecedented rise in temperatures?

Extreme weather events witnessed in various parts of the world recently unequivocally confirm that climate change is a reality beyond debate. The UN Secretary-General’s declaration that July 2023 was the hottest month in history following heat waves that shattered many global records underscores that the consequences of climate change on humans and the planet will be dire and undeniable. This imposes on COP28 the necessity of pushing for ambitious and urgent climate actions.

In preparation for the UAE Climate Summit in December 2023, the UN Secretary-General called for a Climate Ambition Summit on September 20, 2023, to raise the ambition of member states in accelerating climate action across four main pillars: committing to net-zero emissions by 2040, phasing out fossil fuels, early warning systems, and developing a roadmap to double adaptation financing and ensure a just and equitable transition to sustainable energy systems.